08 April 2015

KENYA . Usiu Hit Hard As Kbf Restrict Foreign Players Per Match to Only Two

By Dann O'werre
TEAMS will now only be allowed to field two foreign players in any game during the national league matches.
This bold decision was taken during the Kenya Basketball Federation
(KBF) Annual General Meeting held at the Nyayo National Stadium
gymnasium on Monday. The decision takes effect immediately and it is
aimed at uplifting the local standards.
KBF chairman Paul Otula told the stakeholders said the step has been
taken with a sole intention of giving the local players a chance to
showcase their talents.
National women's champions United states International university
(USIU) will be hard hit by this move and coach George Mayienga has
conceded as much.
"This will surely affect my team. I have five foreign players in my
line up who are key to my plans. Telling me that I can now use only two
in any given league match is going to be a huge blow for our chances to
defend our title," he observed. Otula also directed secretary Vitalis
Gode to register with Fiba Africa only national junior players whose
papers are in order. "We will only send names of players whose papers
are in order, however good they are," he said.
It was also agreed that both Daystar University and Sparks be
included in the ongoing women's Premier League to fill the void left by
Safe Spaces and Mennonites. The two teams , it was agreed, will make the
league competitive.
KBF emphasised that only qualified coaches will be allowed to sit on
the team benches during league games. The meeting promised to released a
list all the qualified coaches.
Otula ordered the national team management board under chairman Agina
Wesonga to be revived and given the mandate to take care of the gate
collections during the league matches.
"I will convene a meeting with my members immediately and look into
ways on how we can raise funds for the national team. We will hit the
ground running on this noble cause," he said. On refereeing, Kenya
Referees Association chairman Fred Awuor said they are working out ways
to improve the quality of the officiating. "We will license all referees
and organise clinics for learners between May and August in all
regions."